Lords Sitting of 1 February 1878

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—First Reading— Linen and Yarn Halls (Dublin)* (11); Parliamentary Elections (Metropolis)* (12).

PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS.
THE MARQUESS OF RIPON,respecting the complaint of his noble Friend (Earl Granville), a few evenings since, called the attention of the noble Duke the Lord President to the fact that the Papers referring to the Eastern Question, and most recently laid on the Tables of both Houses, were distributed to the Members of the House of Commons at an early hour this morning, but had not reached their Lordships as soon.
THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDONsaid, that when on a recent occasion his noble Friend (Earl Granville) made a complaint on this subject, he inquired, and was informed, that the delay in the delivery of the Lords' Papers on that occasion was accidental. He would again make inquiry on the subject.

THE EASTERN QUESTION—ADVANCE OF THE RUSSIAN ARMIES.

  QUESTIONS.
  LORD CAMPBELLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whe-
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  ther he could give the House any information as to the Russian advance on Gallipoli and Constantinople?
  THE EARL OF DERBY: My Lords, I have no very trustworthy or certain information as to the latest movements of the Russian troops. We heard, two days ago, that a part of their forces had appeared at Bourgas and Tchorlu, which latter place is, I believe, about 60 miles from Constantinople. We also heard of their occupying certain positions on the railway from Adrianople towards Constantinople; and it appears that a detachment—I do not know of what strength—was moving southwards in the direction of the -Ægean. We have not heard recently of any advance in the direction of Gallipoli.
  EARL GRANVILLE: May I ask the noble Earl, Whether any information has reached the Foreign Office, as to the signing of the armistice, and as to the terms of peace?
  THE EARL OF DERBY: I shall be happy to lay before your Lordships all the information I have on this subject. Early this morning I received a communication from the Turkish Ambassador, which was substantially in these terms—
  "Received a telegram from Constantinople to the following effect:—'We learn by a telegram from our Plenipotentiaries just received that the general bases of the armistice and of peace will be signed to-day at Adrianople.'"
  That is a telegram received by the Turkish Ambassador, and dated yesterday. If, therefore, the Turkish Government were rightly informed, the signatures would have been affixed yesterday; but I am bound to say that we have not heard that the signatures have been actually affixed, nor has the report been confirmed by anything we have heard from our Ambassador at Constantinople.

  PARLIAMENT—BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
  EARL GRANVILLE: I have not given Notice, but I think it would be convenient, if the Prime Minister would, on Monday, state what course he proposes with reference to the Business of this House.
  House adjourned at a quarter past Five o'clock, to Monday next, Eleven o'clock.